Fuel economizer



March 27, 1928.

J. CORBIERE FUEL ECONQMIZER Filed Sept.18, 1.925

2 Sheets-Smet 1 March 27, 1928.

J. CORBIERE FUEL ECONOMI ZER Filed Sept. 18, 1925 2 Sheets-Smet Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

unirse errar-Es PATENT .oi-Eieren.

FUEL nconomrznn.

LApplication ledieptember 18,l 1926. Seria1"No:136,293.

"The lpresent invention relates generally to fuel-,economizers,` but more particularly has tofdo with-means for Ahumidifying or moistening the hydrocarbon explosive mixture of an internal-combustion-engine subsequent to carburization.

*Thelmain'purpose of the invent-ion is the roduction of a wvater-jacketed muii'ler wherein `the=heat Vradiated-from the exhaust gases fromfthe engine is utilized to generate 'steamI for transmittal tothe intake manifold by means of the suction induced by the pistonsof` the engine.

`Another object is to,A provide a water-circiilatory-systemwherein the water may be prelheated before 'admission to the main heating chamber.

Afurther objecty resides inthe provision oflvalved-meansgfor regulating the flow of water Iintofthegheat-ing vchamber in proportion tothe steam generated there-from.v

"'-The invention V-isfurtherfeatured by ythe production of ag combined heater and muffler A'wherein thefnovelland unique assembling of yparts increase the workability and efficiency of thefunct-ion-ing;ofthe device as afmuflier and furtherutil-izedthe waste-heat radiated by the exhaust gases. therein.

these objects in view,'together with othersv which willappear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement 'of parts, all las will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of an economizer, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 Ais a transverse section ktaken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is a representation of a typical internal combustion engine illustrating the connection effected therewith and my device.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a spider-member; and

Fig'. 6 is an edge view thereof.

Those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains will at once recognize the component parts of my device in view of its similarity to the well-known form of muflier, and as clearly shown in Fig. l, the casing 5 is closed at both ends by heads 6 and 7 each having a centrally apertured hub portion 8 and 9, the former receiving the discharge end -of the pipe-10, while the latter serves as a'port for the exit off-the spent gases. v

Said-pipe 10 is connected -to the exhaust pipe 11 from an internal combustion engine A, (see Fig-4), through Lv'the'mediumofthe coupling 12,4 the exhaustgases from ...said

engine emerging from a plurality-.of apertures 13- in said pipe, and anV aperture 14 arranged centrally Yin a cap 15,V screwedv to the inner end thereof. e

The steam-generating#.portion ofuny .device comprises a casting-16, .which has been uniquely ldesigned to define-a chamber 17, to contain va suitable quantiy of water, and a. heatingl chamber V18 into which latter extends V,the-exhaust end-of said pipe 10, as aforesaid. By coring out this casting circularly to the 4point *adjacent-its forward end 19 and boringI centrally I develop the extension 20 which interiorlydeiines lthefsaid heating chambery 18 and said chamber117 which vsur-'rounds theformer forfan appreciable distance. ySaid casting16is rigidly supported within the casing efthroughl the intermediary f spiders' 21 and"22,fy each having av centr'alaperture .23 to receive said casting and lradial 'wears 24,- suitably v@fastened to said ycasingV as indicated at25. Inbder to prevent longitudinal'displacement of the casting I prefer to interpose the sleeve members 26 between the forward end thereof and the head 6 and fasten same by screws 27 and in order to effect a tight connection between the casting and the pipe 10 aplug 28 is introduced. p

Obviously such a construction results in a sturdy and firm structure well adapted to withstand the jolts attending the operation of a motor vehicle. The provision of the ears 24 of the spiders 21 and 22 permits the freev passage of the exhaust gases emerging fromv the chamber 18 by means of a plural- Iity of radial ports and thence along the inner periphery of the .casing and escaping through the aperture in the hub 9, -all of which as will be clearly'understood upon inspection of Figs. 2 and 3.

The water-supply pipe 80 may enter through thev head 7 and extend longitudinally of the casing to the forward end 19, whereupon it rises vertically and continues along the top of the casting and finally enters the'chamber or reservoir 17, through the head 31 of the cast-ing. The ears of the spiders 21 and 22 are'apertured, as at 32 to serve as a support of said pipe and maintain the same in'close proximity to said casting for the obvious purpose of subjecting its fluid content to the preheating action of the exhaust gases. Means to regulate the iiovv of the Water through the pipe is provided in the form of a float valve 33, its function and purpose being so Well-known further description seems hardly necessary.

The generated steam from the devicev is transmitted to the intake manifold 34 of i an internal combustion engine A, by means of the pipe 35, suitably valved, as indicated at 36 From the foregoing it is apparent I have designed a device wherein the exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold 37 pass to the pipe l0 Which emerge from the apertures in said pipe, the heat thereof coming in contact With the Wall 2O and turning the surrounding Water into steam. The continued passage or baffling of the hot exhaust gases through the ports 29 alongthe inner periphery of the casing is utilized to further heat the Water and to appreciably raise the temperature of the Water in the Water supply pipe 30;

By my construction practically all available heat units in the gas is used and the result is a dry superheated steam, admirably adapted to conveyance to the intake manifold for union With the explosive mixture, which latter is further vaporized and splitup to an appreciable degree.

In the event the device is used in connection With Water-craft the Water from the stream may be drawn into Vthe device, but in the case of a motor-vehicle I'propose to use tanks of standard construction and position same either in conjunction with the ordinary gas tank or as a separate unit.

I claim: l

l. In an internal combustion engine, a Water-jacketed muffler adapted for connection with the end of an exhaust pipe, said muffler comprising a casting having a central bore terminating short of the end thereof, and a cored portion defining a Waterreeeiving chamber concentric With said bore and a housing-concentric Withsaid Vcasting and spaced therefrom to define a space therearound, said casting being apertured to define exit means for the gases from said pipe to said space and means for supplying vvater to said chamber, said means being arranged Within the housing to subject its contents to the prelieating action of the exhaust gases.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a Water-jacketed. muffler adapted for connection With the end of Vaniexhaust pipe, said muffler comprising a .casting having a central bore terminating short ofthe end thereof to receive said pipe, said casting being l cored longitudinally and, concentric With said bore to define a. Water-receiving chamber extending substantially to the inner. end of said casting, a housing positioned over said castingv and spaced therefrom to define a space therearound,said casting havingv exit means in the inner end thereof to permit the escape of the gasesfrom the bore to the space around said casting and means'for supplying- Water to said chamber, said means being i,

arranged Within the yhousing-.to subject its contents to the Vpreheating actionof the exhaust gases.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOSEPH GORBIERE. 

